Black Cherry Soda

Ask growers where Black Cherry Soda comes from and you get several answers, none of them confirmed. The reports agree only that the plant was passed along as a cutting and that its parents are unknown. Growers place it in Oregon. From there a cutting is said to have reached Subcool of TGA Genetics, who, according to this account, received it as a gift and did not breed the strain. The name comes from the fruity flavor, reminiscent of lemonade, and the unusually dark purple flowers.

Genetics and Origin:

Theories about the lineage circulate, but none is documented. One strain description lists a mix of Airborne G13, Ortega, Blackberry, Cinderella 99 and Cherry AK-47. Grower discussions offer other versions: a cross of a Colombian sativa with an inbred Cali-O line, or a particularly dark phenotype of Blackberry Kush. One grower claimed to have reversed the plant and obtained feminized seeds from it; in the same discussion this was rejected as unsubstantiated. The classification varies as well. Some strain descriptions list Black Cherry Soda as sativa-dominant with an 80 % sativa share, another as an indica-leaning hybrid.

As a parent, the strain is better documented. TGA Subcool Seeds crossed it with Jack the Ripper to produce Ace of Spades, and Black Dahlia also descends from it. Further offspring include Black Cherry Pie, Black Cherry Gelato and Black Cherry Cheesecake. Annunaki Genetics, which according to growers receives a mother plant of the original cutting, bred a backcross with Black Cherry Soda Bx2: for it, Black Cherry Soda was paired again with a cross of Black Cherry Soda and Sunlounger. Feminized seeds of this line never existed.

Versions from Different Breeders:

A plant with a different pedigree is also in circulation under the name. A 2018 press report describes a Black Cherry Soda from a producer in the US state of Washington whose genetics trace back to Ace of Spades and Black Dahlia, that is, to offspring of the original plant. The report gives 19.5 % THC and 2.2 % terpenes for these flowers, without naming the lab.

Aroma and Flavor:

Strain descriptions list berry, cherry, tree fruit and sweetness, in part with an earthy, pungent undertone. Several user reports describe the impression of tasting a fizzy lemonade on the exhale. Some compare the aroma to bubble gum and cotton candy, others notice pine and flowers. There are dissenting voices too: one report describes a metallic aftertaste, another is reminded of dryer sheets.

Evaluated certificates of analysis list caryophyllene, limonene and myrcene as the main terpenes, though in changing order. One evaluation puts limonene first, another finds averages of 0.84 % caryophyllene, 0.73 % limonene, 0.55 % terpinolene and 0.51 % myrcene.

Effects:

User reports describe relaxation with elevated mood, combined with focus, creativity, giggling and talkativeness. Several consumers emphasize that they stayed active during the day and did not sink heavily into the armchair. Some, by contrast, find the strain clearly sedating, while others found the effect weak or too short. One report notes that it feels increasingly indica-like with continued use. Dry mouth, dry eyes and dizziness are listed as side effects.

THC Content:

Strain descriptions give 18 to 22 % THC. One grower, by contrast, puts the content of the original cutting at around 15 %.

Cultivation:

The most detailed observation comes from an outdoor grow in southern Oregon. There the plant went into flower on 1 July and was harvested on 23 October. It grew compact, reached 5 to 6 feet in height at the same width, and formed many strong side shoots with large tops. According to the report, the flowers turned exceptionally strongly purple and carried little leaf material. Insects stayed away while other plants in the same garden were affected; mold did not occur, and the plant tolerated fluctuations in temperature and fertilization. The report rates the yield as slightly above average.

One strain description gives a flowering time of 8 to 10 weeks and rates cultivation as moderately difficult, better suited to outdoors because of the height. The report from Oregon, by contrast, considers the strain suitable for beginners as well, and the sources disagree on whether it grows tall or compact. It can be grown indoors and outdoors. Dense flowers with orange hairs are described, in which purple and light green mix. One grower observes that the red-purple coloration sets in from the inside out.

Community Experiences:

Several reports highlight the appearance, a deep purple that extends far into the green of the flowers. Opinions on quality are mixed. One consumer describes a first batch from a producer as convincing, whereas a later one from the same supplier seemed harvested too early; another criticizes black ash. The perceived strength ranges from mild to strong.